Alongside our regular Observatory events, we’re bringing our unique experiences to one of Northumberland’s most iconic inns. Click below to explore upcoming events and secure your place with our expert team for an unforgettable night of discovery.
Events at Twice Brewed InnKielder Observatory is one of the most remarkable places to visit in the whole of the UK, a public astronomical observatory which is second to none. Here you'll find "infinite inspiration" and wonders you could never have imagined under some of the darkest skies in the world.
Kielder Observatory is one of the most inspiring places to visit in the UK—a public astronomical observatory and educational charity where unforgettable memories are made beneath the stars.
Experience wonders beyond imagination against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Europe’s largest Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park. Whether you’re a first-time stargazer or a seasoned astronomer, our dedicated team promises moments that last a lifetime.
Looking to visit as soon as possible? Check out our events with last minute availability below.
Take home the ultimate souvenir of knowledge from Kielder Observatory by learning how award winning astrophotographers take images of the night sky. Modern day digital cameras have resulted in an explosion of popularity for night sky photography. By turning our lenses towards the night sky, we have helped our visitors realise just how capable they can be when shooting into darkness. To start the night, our friendly team of astronomers will deliver a talk, suitable for beginners through to professionals, and will provide the top tips required in order to capture stunning nightscapes of the Milky Way, Aurora Borealis, startrails and more. Furthermore, being situated in the heart of the Northumberland and Kielder Water’s Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, Kielder Observatory is the ideal destination for budding astrophotographers to learn, experiment and achieve quality results with their cameras. Weather permitting, the evening will include informal practical photography sessions, use of Kielder Observatory telescopes to observe the night sky, and then it’ll be time to warm up with a generous dose of our famous hot chocolate, tea or coffee, included in the price. The event will be heavily based on landscape astrophotography. We’d highly recommend you bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a wide-angle lens and a tripod. It’s even possible to capture the stars using the camera on modern smartphones, so we could give that a try! Oh… And don’t forget to charge your batteries! You will also have the opportunity to support our charity further by taking home a memento of your visit from our gift shop. ...
Tickets
From £35.00 per person
Next available event
Sunday 31st August
This event is held during the darkest hours of the night, offering the best opportunity for stargazing under clear skies. Our expert and passionate astronomers will guide you on a journey of astronomical discovery. They’ll share their knowledge and stories of the universe, helping you connect with astronomy and make lasting memories. You’ll enjoy a specialist talk, explore the observatory and its telescopes, and take part in hands-on activities with meteorites or experiments with light. You’ll have the chance to ask our astronomers anything you like, enjoy a hot drink (including our famous hot chocolate) and browse our gift shop for a keepsake of your visit. Whenever possible throughout the night, you’ll observe the cosmos under some of the darkest skies in Europe through our powerful telescopes. Our astronomers will guide you to observe stars, constellations, planets, the Moon, and even distant galaxies. They’ll also share tips to help you continue your stargazing journey at home. You can take away information and literature covering many of the topics explored during your visit, so the memories and learning last long after you leave. As a Late Night Discoverer, you will also receive 10% off your purchase in our gift shop and a complimentary star map to continue your stargazing journey at home. For additional event information please visit our FAQs. ...
Tickets
From £49.00 per person
Next available event
Thursday 4th September
When you gaze up at a dark sky, stars are everywhere, but what exactly are they? What makes a star tick, and what makes them one day go boom? In the Secret Lives of Stars we’ll take you on a journey through the birth, life, death, and renewal of these mesmerising stellar objects. Throughout your visit, our expert and passionate astronomers will guide you on a journey of astronomical discovery. They’ll share their knowledge and stories of the universe, helping you connect with astronomy and make lasting memories. You’ll enjoy a specialist talk, explore the observatory and its telescopes, and take part in hands-on activities with meteorites or experiments with light. You’ll have the chance to ask our astronomers anything you like, enjoy a hot drink (including our famous hot chocolate) and browse our gift shop for a keepsake of your visit. Whenever possible throughout the night, you’ll observe the cosmos under some of the darkest skies in Europe through our powerful telescopes. Our astronomers will guide you to observe stars, constellations, planets, the Moon, and even distant galaxies. They’ll also share tips to help you continue your stargazing journey at home. You can take away information and literature covering many of the topics explored during your visit, so the memories and learning last long after you leave. For additional event information please visit our FAQs. ...
Tickets
From £42.00 per person
Next available event
Friday 5th September
Our reviews are out of this world...
Kielder Observatory is a charity that exists to inspire, enthuse and educate the public about the wonders of the universe. Donating to us will help us reach more people and support their interest in astronomy. Your gift will help fund our work in schools, in the arts, our citizen science projects, getting out and about in the community and, of course, the work we do at the Observatory itself.
Lots of exciting things are happening at Kielder Observatory, use this page to browse the latest stories.
Kielder Observatory is thrilled to announce a stellar new partnership, taking over residency of the Twice Brewed Inn Observatory -...
Read Time
3 minutes
The dark skies are back - and August is packed with cosmic treats! Catch the Milky Way, the peak of the...
Read Time
7 minutes
Discover how Kielder Observatory's stunning astrophotography helped shape the haunting beauty of 28 Years Later, the latest blockbuster from Danny...
Read Time
3 minutes
Purchase some of the incredible photographs taken from Kielder Observatory.
This picture was taken in the late Autumn of 2014, taken through the telescope with a DSLR camera....
£25.00
The lunar eclipse on 21st January 2019 was an unforgettable sight. The whole observatory team stayed up until 6am to capture images of this amazing cosmic coincidence. A lunar eclipse is when the Earth is perfectly lined up in between the Sun and Moon. Earth’s shadow sweeps across the lunar surfaces causing the Moon to turn blood red....
£25.00
This was taken on a moonlit night to keep the observatory illuminated, the image is created by stacking a number of shots taken over a long period of time. This was shot using a 14mm lens, with 25 second exposures for 30 minutes. We can see how the stars appear to trail around one central point, our North Star (Polaris), as the Earth spins on its axis and Polaris stays still in its position directly above the North Pole....
£25.00
The clearest of skies allow for this amazing 'star trails' image, the rotating earth allows for these beautiful shapes and patterns to develop. Our eyes can never see the passage of time like this but the camera can....
£25.00
Our workshops and talks are the perfect educational visit to broaden your knowledge!
Take home the ultimate souvenir of knowledge from Kielder Observatory by learning how award winning astrophotographers take images of the night sky. Modern day digital cameras have resulted in an explosion of popularity for night sky photography. By turning our lenses towards the night sky, we have helped our visitors realise just how capable they can be when shooting into darkness. To start the night, our friendly team of astronomers will deliver a talk, suitable for beginners through to professionals, and will provide the top tips required in order to capture stunning nightscapes of the Milky Way, Aurora Borealis, startrails and more. Furthermore, being situated in the heart of the Northumberland and Kielder Water’s Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, Kielder Observatory is the ideal destination for budding astrophotographers to learn, experiment and achieve quality results with their cameras. Weather permitting, the evening will include informal practical photography sessions, use of Kielder Observatory telescopes to observe the night sky, and then it’ll be time to warm up with a generous dose of our famous hot chocolate, tea or coffee, included in the price. The event will be heavily based on landscape astrophotography. We’d highly recommend you bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a wide-angle lens and a tripod. It’s even possible to capture the stars using the camera on modern smartphones, so we could give that a try! Oh… And don’t forget to charge your batteries! You will also have the opportunity to support our charity further by taking home a memento of your visit from our gift shop. ...
Tickets
From £35.00 per person
Next available event
Sunday 31st August
Private Events
Travel through the cosmos as we bring the wonder of the dark skies to you with our inflatable planetarium. Perfect for a group setting, our astronomers will guide you across the universe with these impressive shows...
Private Events
From meteorites to space exploration, planets to satellites and everything in between, our astronomer-lead workshops are the perfect way to engage with science and astronomy for schools and community groups. With practical hand-on learning, guided by an expert astronomer there is no better way to get to grips with astronomy...
The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory. If you've ever wondered what happens when you fall into a black hole, if intelligent life is watching us from other galaxies, or how the North East is at the forefront of the British Space programme, then you can find out more in this series!
Each month we also update you on the things to look out for in the night.
